Bimhal
Bimhal was a son of Japhlet, a descendant of Asher.
Biography
Bimhal is mentioned solely in 1 Chronicles 7:33 as one of the three sons of Japhlet, a descendant from the tribe of Asher. His brothers were Pasach and Ashvath, and together they appear in the genealogical register of Asher compiled by the Chronicler. Asher was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's son of the same name by Zilpah, Leah's maidservant (Genesis 30:13). Japhlet's lineage is traced through Beriah and Heber within the Asherite genealogy (1 Chronicles 7:30-33). Beyond this single genealogical reference, nothing further is recorded about Bimhal's life, deeds, or circumstances. His name is preserved in Scripture solely as part of the Chronicler's effort to document the tribal families of Israel comprehensively.
Significance
Though Bimhal appears in only a single genealogical verse, his inclusion in the Asherite genealogy of 1 Chronicles reflects the biblical conviction that every person within the covenant community holds a named place before God. The meticulous genealogical records of Chronicles served a vital theological purpose for the post-exilic community: establishing continuity with the pre-exilic people of God and validating claims to tribal inheritance and identity. Asher's territory in northern Canaan was associated with abundance (Genesis 49:20), and it was from this tribe that the prophetess Anna descended (Luke 2:36), who recognized the infant Jesus in the temple. Even the most obscure members of Asher's lineage are thus woven into the broader tapestry of Israel's story.
Verse Appearances (1)
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]